Technology Fuels Spirit of Sportsmanship at Rugby World Cup 2019 as Mastercard Unveils Live ‘Player of the Match’ Trophy
September 19, 2019 | Tokyo | By Jennifer StalzerResearch Demonstrates Positive Impact on Player and Fan Experiences
As Rugby World Cup 2019TM kicks off, worldwide partner Mastercard is celebrating the inclusive spirit and innovation that makes rugby a uniting force for fans and players around the world.
“Connecting with people through their passions is at the heart of how we bring Priceless to life all over the world,” said Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. “Sports have been an important part of that journey, and by using technology to enhance the experience for fans at the game, fans at home and players alike is how we are building emotional and culturally-relevant connections.”
With a recognition of the impact technology has on the fan experience, Mastercard today unveiled new changes to Player of the Match award. New for 2019, the Mastercard Player of the Match trophy blends Japanese heritage with cutting-edge technology, celebrating the first-ever Rugby World Cup™ in Asia.
The hardware features a sculptural origami design, inspired by the work of Professor Jun Mitani**, and will be finished live on the ground with in-the-moment laser etching reflecting highlights from the match. Monitoring fan activity on social media through a bespoke API – combined with commentary from the official worldfeed RWC 2019TM – Mastercard will select the top moments of each match to be immortalized on the trophy.
This unique storymaking approach enables players to take home a first-of-its-kind, truly priceless account of the match, so they can re-live moments of passion, excitement and sporting greatness.
Technology Leaves Its Mark on the Field…
In a recent survey of sports fans, several impacts of technology were highlighted as improving the overall experience, both in-stadium and at home. Video replay came out as a fan favorite, with over half (54%) of all respondents saying it was significantly improving sport.
South African rugby legend Bryan Habana agrees that “referring certain on field instances to the” TMO (Television Match Official) “has been crucial in making important, game changing decisions. We are seeing more of the correct decisions being made when instances of TMO involvement is introduced.”
English and Irish fans have varying opinions. Those in Ireland are big fans of video replay (60%), while a slightly lower percentage in the UK (39%) supported the technology. Regardless of geography, fans are united in a love for sports on the go, with a majority of both nations saying keeping up to date on their phones makes them feel more connected.
…And Keeps Fans Close to the Game
Technology has also played a role in how fans stay connected to the sport. New Zealand (38%) and Australia (22%) represent the largest populations watching a match live on television at least twice a week. Meanwhile, in continental Europe, French and Italians are united in their favorite motivational emoji, both loving the hand clap when tweeting about sport (22% and 23% respectively).
Bringing the Experience to the Fans
In addition to Dan Carter and Bryan Habana, Mastercard is working with Joy Neville, Michael Leitch and Akihito Yamada as global ambassadors for Rugby World Cup 2019TM in Japan to bring fans closer to the games and sport they love.
This year, Mastercard will host its first-ever Priceless Surprise Twitter thread, a priceless chain of unexpected moments in unexpected places with unsuspecting people during the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2019TM. Fans can be a part of the experience by following Mastercard global ambassadors @DanCarter and @BryanHabana, @mastercard and #PricelessSurprise on Twitter.
#StartSomethingPriceless #RWC2019
Notes to editors:
Research data from a global survey by of 13,000 people across Great Britain, Republic of Ireland, Italy, France, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, Australia and New Zealand commissioned by Mastercard.
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau
About Rugby World Cup 2019TM
Rugby World Cup 2019TM in Japan is the ninth edition of rugby's showcase global event and the first in Asia. The world's top 20 national teams will play in 48 matches hosted across 12 match cities for the right to lift the Webb Ellis Cup and be crowned world champions. Rugby World Cup 2019Ô is the sport's financial engine, generating approximately 90 per cent of World Rugby'sTM revenues for reinvestment in the global game over the four-year cycle. The record-breaking success of England 2015 is enabling World RugbyTM to invest GBP £482 million at all levels of the game between 2016 and 2019, eclipsing the previous four-year cycle by 38 per cent, to ensure strong and sustainable growth. All the latest news can be found at www.rugbyworldcup.com and via @rugbyworldcup across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
**About Professor Jun Mitani
Dr. Jun Mitani is a professor of Information and Systems at University of Tsukuba undertaking research related to computer graphics. Born in Shizuoka in 1975, Mitani graduated from the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering in 2004 and later graduated from the University of Tokyo, securing a doctorate in Engineering.
His early intrigue and fascination by paper-made handcrafts and computers lead to his current research theme. Mitani's research includes computational origami design, or simply, origami designing with computer software. The main research themes are shape modelling, computational geometry, computational paper and digital fabrication. Additionally, he has authored two books, "3D Origami Art (Nippon Critics)" and "Curve Origami Design (Nippon Critics)".
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